Tag: young living

Pain is an inevitable aspect of life that can get in the way of living. Whether the pain comes suddenly or slowly builds over time, quick relief becomes the primary focus. Traditional medicine can cause adverse reactions with long term use, making natural remedies an attractive form of pain relief. Essential oils are proven to be helpful in providing pain relief. In fact, there are many essential oils for chronic pain that may provide just the relief that you are looking for.

Best Essential Oils for Pain

When it comes to pain relief, essential oils can often provide natural pain relief without uncomfortable side effects. Searching for what essential oils are good for pain can seem like a daunting task, with over hundreds of oils to choose from. With natural pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties, the following are the best essential oils for aches and pains.

Wintergreen Essential Oil for Pain

The benefits of wintergreen essential oil, stem from its main compound, methyl salicylate. Its analgesic effects rival that of the traditional over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin. When wintergreen essential oil is applied topically and fully absorbed, it represents the same salicylate as a 325 mg aspirin tablet. Theoretically, analgesic essential oils such as wintergreen could provide comparable pain relief.

When looking for essential oils for toothache pain, in particular, wintergreen essential oil may prove to be a powerful natural remedy. The cool and refreshing sensation provides a numbing effect when applied externally to the affected area. Similarly, wintergreen essential oil is also one of the best essential oils for muscle pain as the cooling analgesic effects provide quick pain relief to sore muscles.

Frankincense Essential Oil for Pain

The therapeutic benefits of frankincense essential oil include natural pain relief and wound healing properties, and is often regarded as the best essential oil for inflammation. In a 2003 study, patients with osteoarthritis knee pain were given either frankincense essential oil or a placebo. The group that was given the frankincense essential oil reported improved knee movement, better range of motion, increased ability to walk for longer distances, and an overall significant decrease in knee pain. Frankincense may also be one of the best essential oils for joint pain.

The powerful anti-inflammatory properties also make frankincense essential oil one of the most effective essential oils for breast pain. Many women experience severe breast pain due to pregnancy or during menstrual cycles. According to the International Journal of Childbirth Education, this warming essential oil provides comfort and relief to breast tenderness. Similarly, it’s also one of the most recommended essential oils for menstrual pain, due to its anti-inflammatory properties and warming effects. Stomach pain that is caused by menstruation can be alleviated with frankincense essential oil, as well, as it is one of the top essential oils for stomach pain.

In order to use frankincense essential oil for pain related to menstruation, mix a few drops of the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba, and gently massage into the skin.

Frankincense essential oil is among the top essential oils for sinus pain. The anti-inflammatory properties combined with its antiseptic activity make it an excellent natural remedy for each of these ailments. In fact, it’s such a beneficial essential oil for the entire respiratory tract it’s often one of the most recommended essential oils for chest pain by aromatherapists.

The known properties of frankincense essential oil put it at the top of the list of essential oils for neuropathy pain. Neuropathy pain is often the result of malfunctioning nerves, frequently caused by injury or disease, such as diabetes.1 Frankincense essential oil is often prescribed to treat diabetic foot infections, as a result. To make your own pain relief oil, add 2-4 drops of frankincense essential oil to 1 Tbsp. of carrier oil, and gently massage onto the affected area.

Lavender Oil for Pain

One of the most notable benefits of lavender essential oil is its calming and relaxing effect. This combined with its pain reducing properties makes it one of the best aromatherapy oils for pain relief. When administered oxygen infused with lavender essential oil, biopsy patients reported better pain control than those who received plain oxygen.

This aromatic essential oil is not only one of the best essential oils for pain management, but is also an incredibly versatile oil that can be used to reduce inflammation and improve sleep quality that may otherwise be compromised by pain. With its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, it also proves to be an effective essential oil for ear pain.

Lavender essential oil has also traditionally been used for stomach issues, loss of appetite, and liver and kidney problems. Many people use lavender essential oil for gas pain because of its well-known digestive benefits.

Lavender essential oil may be one of the more suitable essential oils for fibromyalgia pain, as well. It can help reduce the anxiety and stress associated with fibromyalgia while also gently providing pain relief.

Ginger Essential Oil for Pain

The properties of ginger essential oil make it an incredibly versatile ingredient when it comes to pain relief. According to a study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, ginger essential oil helped reduce stiffness and pain intensity among patients with severe knee pain.

In another study in 2014, ginger essential oil was combined with a carrier oil to be used during a massage treatment for patients with chronic lower back pain. After being massaged twice a week for five weeks with the oil mixture, participants experienced significantly reduced back pain.

Chamomile Essential Oil for Pain

Chamomile essential oil’s best qualities include powerful pain-relieving and anti-stress properties that can help relieve irritated joints and muscles. Chamomile essential oil has also been shown to demonstrate natural anti-inflammatory benefits.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil for Pain

Eucalyptus essential oil’s benefits stem from its notable pain-relieving properties. In a 2013 study, patients with osteoarthritis who inhaled eucalyptus essential oil for thirty minutes over three consecutive days reported a significant decrease in pain. They also had reduced blood pressure after the experiment, hinting to its calming effects, as well.

To use eucalyptus essential oil in aromatherapy, place a few drops into a diffuser and let the soothing aroma fill the air. Inhale for at least thirty minutes each day as the pain continues.

Rosemary Essential Oil for Pain

Clinical trials have shown that the benefits of rosemary essential oil may be due to certain bioactive compounds that help reduce pain and swelling. Inhaling rosemary essential oil via aromatherapy has also been shown to reduce perceived pain, as well. As such, it’s commonly recommended as a pain-reducing option for arthritis and inflammation.

Essential Oils for Back Pain

When searching for the best essential oil for back pain, it is first important to understand the cause of the pain. Whether the pain is caused by inflammation, nerve pain, or menstruation can greatly determine what essential oils are good for back pain relief.

Ginger essential oil is one of the best essential oils for lower back pain, thanks to its pain-relieving properties. Its well-known properties have been studied time and time again, making it one of the top recommended essential oils for back pain.

Wintergreen essential oil provides a cooling and numbing sensation, making it one of the most popular essential oils for back pain relief. The analgesic effects help eliminate the pain signals to the brain, thus reducing overall experienced pain.

When it comes to essential oils for pain, in back or any part of the body, lavender essential oil still holds a strong position at the top of the list. The anti-inflammatory properties reduce inflammation in both the muscles as well as the connective tissues. The analgesic properties reduce pain signals, making it one of the most popular essential oils used for pain in general. The calming effects also make lavender essential oil a key ingredient in pain management. It is no surprise, then, that it is among the best essential oils for sciatica pain and nerve pain in the back.

To use any of these essential oils for your back pain, consider making a pain-relieving massage oil. Add a few drops of each essential oil into an ounce of a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, and gently massage into the skin.

Essential Oils for Nerve Pain

Nerve pain can be downright debilitating, necessitating immediate relief by any means. Normally, our nerves are protected by our skull and spinal cord. This allows nerve signals to rapidly communicate from one end of the body to the other. However, sometimes this protection can be compromised, such as with sciatica or the shingles. Nerves become exposed and, consequently, damaged.3

Though nerve damage requires a lot more medical attention than simple pain relief, essential oils for shingles pain may be very effective until the root of the problem is treated. In fact, when using essential oils for nerve pain relief, pain may become more manageable.

Though nerve pain can be caused by a variety of issues, they are all related to inflammation and swelling.3 As such, the recommended essential oils for sciatica nerve pain will often be the same as the essential oils for shingles nerve pain.

Eucalyptus essential oil is especially helpful with nerve pain as it works via aromatherapy. To benefit from its pain-reducing properties, place a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil into a diffuser and let the aroma fill the air. Breathe in the air for 30 minutes a day until the pain subsides.

Essential Oils for Neck Pain

Neck pain most often comes due to sitting for long periods of time, such as at a desk job. Stress accumulates in the neck and shoulder area without much opportunity for release. Tension and inflammation set into the muscles, and a nagging neck pain ensues.

Creating an essential oil blend for pain may be the best option for treating neck pain. Try mixing together 5 drops each of frankincense essential oil, lavender essential oil, and chamomile essential oil with 2 Tbsp. of a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil. Gently massage this oil blend into the sore area. As the oils absorb into your neck, you will also benefit by breathing in the calming aroma.

Essential Oils for Shoulder Pain

Our shoulders hold the bulk of our stress and tension that comes from everyday living. If left untreated, the muscles can become inflamed and too tight to function properly. When treating shoulder pain, a combination of essential oils may be best to tackle both tension and inflammation.

Frankincense essential oil may help reduce swelling and inflammation associated with shoulder pain. Lavender and chamomile essential oils may help relieve tension in the shoulder caused by stress.

For a natural pain relief massage oil, combine 3 drops each of frankincense, lavender, and chamomile essential oils with 1 Tbsp. of a carrier oil. Gently massage into the sore shoulder. For a warm compress, lay a warm, wet cloth over the top to ease muscle tension.

Essential Oils for Knee Pain

Swelling and pain around the knee joint can cause tremendous pain, often times making it difficult to even walk. The primary goal is to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Wintergreen, rosemary, ginger, and frankincense essential oils are considered the best essential oils for knee pain.

According to a study involving patients with severe knee pain, a massage oil containing ginger essential oil was able to help reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Frankincense essential oil is the top knee pain essential oil to reduce swelling and inflammation. Rosemary essential oil has been shown to be effective in reducing joint pain related to inflammation. Finally, wintergreen essential oil may be another good choice, as it provides immediate numbing relief, thanks to the analgesic properties.

Essential Oils for TMJ Pain

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions cause pain and dysfunction throughout the entire jaw joint region. Traditional treatment for TMJ pain includes ice packs and medication to help reduce stiffness and swelling.4 When searching for essential oils for jaw pain, there really is no better combination than lavender and wintergreen essential oils. The analgesic effects of wintergreen essential oil relieve TMJ pain, while lavender essential oil relaxes the muscle tension in the jaw.

To use these natural oils for pain relief, mix one drop of each with 1 Tbsp. of a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil, and gently rub onto the affected area.

Essential Oils for Heel Pain

The best essential oils for foot pain are those with powerful anti-inflammatory properties, as many ailments related to the feet result in inflammation. Frankincense essential oil and wintergreen essential oil are the best essential oils for painful feet, no matter the cause, as they quickly reduce swelling and relieve pain.

For plantar fasciitis, a combination of healing oils for pain is best. Combine several drops each of frankincense and wintergreen essential oils with a carrier oil and massage rigorously into the foot.

The best essential oils for bunion pain will focus on numbing the outer area while working deep to alleviate inflammation. Combine frankincense and wintergreen essential oils for pain relief caused by bunions. Though this mixture will not heal the bunion itself, it will help alleviate the pain caused by the bunion.

Another common cause of foot pain is gout. Gout is a buildup of acid in the body, which can lead to painful inflammation. This inflammation usually occurs around the joints, especially in the feet.5 The best essential oils for gout pain are frankincense and wintergreen essential oils. The cooling and numbing effect of wintergreen essential oil promotes blood circulation, which will help clear out the acid buildup in your feet. When used as a massage oil, frankincense essential oil will penetrate the skin to reduce painful inflammation.

When treating foot pain with essential oils, combine a few drops of the selected essential oils with a Tbsp. of a carrier oil and gently rub into affected area. Alternatively, make a therapeutic foot soak by adding 2-3 drops of essential oil into a large container filled with warm water. Place feet inside for up to 30 minutes for sore foot relief.

Essential Oils for Kidney Pain

The kidney is responsible for filtering toxins from the blood. Sometimes, its function is compromised for a variety of reasons. When this occurs, kidney pain can set in, leaving a painful ache in your lower back. Using essential oils for aches can certainly be helpful while you also work to treat your kidneys.

Traditionally, lavender essential oil has been used to treat problems with the liver and kidneys. But the therapeutic properties of thyme essential oil have also been shown to reduce symptoms of backache and cramping, according to one study, which may be helpful in treating back pain associated with the kidneys.

Combine 2-3 drops each of lavender and thyme essentials oils with a tablespoon of a carrier oil to ease kidney pain. Gently rub the oil mixture onto affected area several times a day.

Essential Oils for Tendon Pain

Tendon pain is usually caused by inflammation and swelling. This is most often seen in the knees and the wrists. The best essential oils for wrist pain and knee pain will treat the inflammation of the tendons and increase blood flow to the area.

Frankincense essential oil can significantly reduce swelling while wintergreen essential oil will increase blood flow, thanks to the cooling sensation. Add 2 drops each of frankincense essential oil and wintergreen essential oil to a carrier oil, and gently rub into the affected area.

Essential Oils for Hip Pain

Pain in the hips can significantly decrease your range of motion and even make walking a difficult task. The swelling and inflammation in the hips not only causes significant pain but it also reduces blood flow to the area. The best way to address this pain is to reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and relieve the pain.

A combination of frankincense, wintergreen, and lavender essential oils will be able to help support this process. Combine several drops of each with a carrier oil and gently massage into the hips.

Essential Oils for Leg Pain

Leg pain can come from a variety of causes, from growing pains to overuse. Using lavender essential oil for leg pain may help alleviate the symptoms.

Other essential oils for growing pains include rosemary essential oil, which will reduce any swelling and provide a warming sensation, and wintergreen essential oil, which will increase blood flow to the area.

Create an effective essential oil compress by combining several drops of each essential oil in a large bowl filled with warm or hot water. Gently dip a cloth into the mixture, until it soaks into the material. Place the warm cloth onto the affected area until the cloth loses its temperature. Repeat as necessary. For leg pain that occurs at night, try adding 2-4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a diffuser filled with water.

Essential Oils for Bone Pain

The best essential oils for body aches and bone pain will reduce inflammation and increase circulation in the affected area. Frankincense essential oil is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to penetrate the skin. Wintergreen essential oil is most recognizable for its refreshing aroma and cooling sensation, which promotes blood circulation.

Eucalyptus essential oil is especially helpful in treating bone pain. In a 2013 study, patients with osteoarthritis inhaled eucalyptus essential oil for thirty minutes for three days and reported significantly reduced pain.

To make a massage oil, combine a 2 drops of frankincense essential oil and wintergreen essential oil with 1 Tbsp. of carrier oil and gently rub onto the affected area for pain relief. For aromatherapy, add 2-4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a diffuser and inhale the aroma for thirty minutes each day until the pain subsides.

I’ve been posting a lot of recipes lately, and I hope you’ve been enjoying them. When a recipe has an oil, I give the one I used and sometimes recommend a few more oils. Sometimes I say that any carrier oil can be used. A few readers have asked what carrier oils are, so I decided to dedicate an entire post to them. I just picked up several new oils, so you’ll be seeing new oils in the near future.

You can usually safely substitute one carrier oil for another oil with great results. Coconut oil is one that doesn’t interchange well because it is solid at room temperature. Otherwise, you can pick the one that meets your needs or based on what you have on hand unless the recipe states otherwise. Some oils are better used mixed with other oils, such as avocado oil.

What Are Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are vegetable oils made from the seed, nuts, or kernels of plants. They carry essential oils and other absolutes so you can apply them to your skin. You can’t apply most essential oils directly to your skin, so you have to dilute them with a carrier oil. These oils are also used in sugar scrub recipes, lotions, balms, lip balms, and salves.

Carrier oils shouldn’t have a strong smell, except for unrefined coconut oil. They will have a slight nutty aroma that doesn’t affect your final product. If your oil has a strong odor, it could be rancid. Discard it and do not use it.

When you’re shopping for an oil, make sure you buy cold pressed oil. Heat can damage the good qualities of the oil, so it’s very important to get cold pressed oils.

Almond oil (sweet almond oil) is moisturizing for your skin. It is very versatile, so it works in many types of recipes. It’s high in vitamins A and E to nourish your skin. Do not use this oil if you have a nut allergy.

Apricot kernel oil is very gentle, so it’s great for sensitive skin or recipes that you make for children. It’s also very versatile, so it’s a great substitute for almond oil. It’s often used in lotion recipes and for hot oil treatments.

Avocado oil is high in essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins. It’s great for sensitive skin or problem skin and eczema. Avocado is usually combine with other carrier oils and not used alone.

Castor oil is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. It’s often used on irritated skin. It’s usually combined with other oils and not used alone.

Coconut oil is one of my favorite oils because of the heavenly smell. It is also naturally antifungal and antibacterial, so it ‘s great for lip balms and lotions. It’s solid at room temperature, so it will harden a recipe when added. It can be combined with other oils so the final result isn’t so hard. Look for unrefined coconut oil, which is the kind that smells like coconut. Refining may use chemicals to extract more oil, and it also bleaches and deodorizes the oil. They may also add sodium hydroxide to extend it’s shelf life.

Evening primrose oil is used to combat skin dryness and skin irritations. It’s great for the skin and hair and is said to reduce the effects of aging. It’s also great for eczema.

Flax seed oil is high in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. It’s especially great for your hair because it promotes hair growth.

Grapeseed oil is a dry oil, so it isn’t as oily on your skin. It’s used in hair recipes and skin recipes. It’s a natural astringent, so it’s great for acne prone or oily skin.

Jojoba oil is a popular carrier oil because it’s very close to the oils your body naturally produces. It absorbs in to your skin easily without being greasy. It can clog pores though, so it’s best used with other oils.

Macadamia nut oil is a dry oil, so it absorbs quickly without leaving an oily residue. It’s great for skin and hair.

Olive oil is readily available in nearly any supermarket, so it’s a popular beauty recipe ingredient. It’s great to use to infuse herbs. It has good fats for your skin and hair, but it will leave behind excess oil that doesn’t soak in to your skin right away.

Rosehip seed oil is high in vitamins A and E for the skin. It also has essential fatty acids to promote elastin and collagen production. It’s often used in creams and balms for stretch marks, burns, wrinkles, eczema, and sunburns.

Safflower oil is high in linoleic acid, so it’s a great oil for acne prone skin. It’s also often used for oil cleansing because it removes oil and dirt from the skin without drying your skin or hair. It lubricates the skin, which traps moisture next to your skin.

Sesame seed oil is a light oil, so it’s often used in massage oils. It moisturizes the skin without being overly oily.

Sunflower Oil is often used in recipes to treat psoriasis, eczema, dry skin, or damaged skin. It’s a light oil, so it can also be used as a massage oil.

Hope this helps answer questions about carrier oils, my favorite oil to use is coconut oil.

Chances are you have a friend who raved about it, or a family member who swears by it. Well, I’m here to demystify it for you and explain what it is and what it can do for you. I’ll also explain how to order and where to get Thieves essential oil (trust me, you can’t just get it from a health food store).

What is Thieves Essential Oil?

Thieves is an essential oil blend and one of the best-selling products available from Young Living. It’s a blend made with Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus Radiata, Rosemary and Lemon essential oils. It’s one of my favorite essential oils. It smells like fresh-baked cookies (it’s spicy and earthy), and can be used as a dietary supplement.

But trust me, not all Thieves is created the same. Young Living has the original Thieves essential oil blend.

And they actually have two options: Thieves (for topical and aromatic use) and Vitality (the white label – for dietary/internal use). Why two bottles? It’s the exact same oil, but a product cannot be used for topical and dietary, according to product labeling standards. But do know that it IS the same oil.

So how do you use Thieves essential oil? I’ve got 10 great uses – keep reading…

Make a Wellness Tea

Add a drop of Thieves Vitality and a spoonful of raw honey to a warm cup of water. Enjoy in the morning or anytime you need a boost.

Spice Up Apple Cider

Add a drop of Thieves Vitality to a cup of warm apple cider. It can help to spice it up and enhance the flavor of the apple.

Add Flavor to Applesauce

Add Thieves Vitality to a batch of homemade applesauce to spice it up. Start with a drop or two and add more Thieves as needed.

Support Healthy Immune Function*

When taken internally, Thieves Vitality can help to support health immune function*. Add a drop to a spoonful of honey or even add a vegetable capsule and top with coconut oil to take as a dietary supplement.

Support a Healthy Respiratory System*

The Thieves Vitality essential oil blend contains Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil, which may help maintain a healthy respiratory system, when taken as a dietary supplement.*

Add to Your Toothpaste

If you like to DIY, you can make homemade toothpaste and add Thieves Vitality essential oil. It tastes fantastic. Ready-made Thieves toothpaste is also available from Young Living (how to order).

Ditch Your Air Freshener

Make your home smell like fresh-baked cookies (that’s what I think Thieves smells like in the diffuser) or like your favorite fall scent. Just add a few drops to your diffuser. If you have friends or family over at your home or need to showcase your home (realtors, listen up), Thieves is the perfect essential oil to diffuse. Everyone will be looking for the batch of cookies.

Clean Your Home

You can make your own DIY household cleaner with Thieves essential oil or use Thieves Household Cleaner to clean virtually every surface of your home. It smells great too.

Enjoy with a Shot of NingXia Red

One of my favorite ways to enjoy Thieves Vitality is to add a drop to a shot of NingXia Red, an antioxidant drink made from wolfberries (which are gogi berries from China). It’s spicy, refreshing and great for helping to support a healthy immune system.*

Make a DIY Breath Spray

I have a fantastic recipe to make a DIY breath spray with Peppermint Vitality essential oil to freshen breath, but Thieves Vitality is another alternative – kind of like a red, hot cinnamon gum flavor. Just add 2-3 drops of Thieves essential oil to a mini spray bottle and fill with water. Use as needed to freshen breath.

What’s your favorite use for Thieves? Please comment below and share with us.

I don’t know a single woman who doesn’t say she needs to take better care of herself. All the wives, moms, grandmothers, career women, stay at home moms, homeschoolers, volunteers… they ALL seem to say that taking care of themselves is next on their to-do list. Well, essential oils are a helpful and effective way for us women to make some progress in this area. Here are some essential oils for women’s health that are fantastic for physical and mental well being, with some fun ways to use them.

Dryer Balls are a MUST for those of you who want to save money on Laundry Care.

If you don’t currently use dryer balls or haven’t heard of them, they are a great way to shorten your dryer time to save you money. I am not big on using softener sheets, I can’t really remember the last time I used them or even bought them.

5 Reasons to Ditch your Dryer Sheets and Use Wool Dryer Balls

Why NOT Just Use Dryer Sheets?

Have you ever looked up the EWG rating on Dryer Sheets? Very very disturbing. And the reason I never buy them anymore. And when I say never, I mean never.

If you haven’t checked it out you should take a look – those of you who are truly concerned about what goes in and on your body will appreciate checking out that site to see how your other products are rated too.

Dryer Balls are an inexpensive and non-toxic alternative to dryer sheets.

5 Reasons You Should Switch to Wool Dryer Balls

Making the switch is SO easy… not to mention it’ll save you so much later on. Here are my 5 reasons to jump ship from softener and move onto something better.

#1 – Fabric Softener makes your towels LESS absorbent – TRUE. The chemicals leave behind a plastic film on your clothing and on your towels. Yes, it might smell good, but at what cost? What’s the point of using a towel if it’s not absorbent?

#2 – Dryer Balls can replace dryer sheets AND liquid softener – they are reusable. Which means you can cross the softener and the sheets off your list, pocket that money and redirect somewhere else.

#3 – Dryer Sheets and liquid are SO bad for your skin (and your health). Think that I’m a little extreme? You can see the rating on the EWG.

#4 – Dryer Balls make your dryer run more efficiently. They cut down on dryer time at least 25%. That’s huge if you are trying to trim your budget.

#5 – They can perk up any of your laundry-line dried “stiff” clothes. Don’t want to use the dryer at all? That works for me – if you put your clothes outside, they tend to get stiff though. So when you bring them in, throw them in the dryer for a few minutes with your dryer balls to soften them up.

How do Wool Dryer Balls Work?

Wool Dryer Balls shorten your drying time – they do that by circulating air into the load of laundry and soaking up excess water. The more you use, the faster the clothes dry.

Although they don’t eliminate the static they reduce it quite a bit. They are a great alternative to softener sheets – which will affect the absorbency of your towels after multiple uses.

Use your Essential Oils with your Dryer Balls

It’s SO easy to use Essential Oils with wool dryer balls. Once the balls are ready for the dryer, scent them with 4-5 drops of Essential Oil on each ball.

That scent should last 3-4 cycles – you can always add more if you wish.

Oil Combinations

Here are some oil combinations you can use for your dryer balls:

Lime and Stress Away is a great combination

Sheets and towels do well with Rosemary & Lavender

Regular clothes smell terrific with 3 Lavender and 3 Orange

And if you have sick kids and you are washing sheets or pillowcases, use Purification and/or Tea Tree

The weather is getting chilly, and the snow is falling in many parts of the country. I love this time of year, and I especially love trying new essential oil diffuser blends to get in the Christmas spirit. I have a diffuser running in my house most hours of the day, which gives me plenty of opportunity to experiment with different blends to see what I really enjoy. And of course, what is being diffused changes for the seasons. In spring and summer I love to diffuse fresh scented oils like lemongrass and citrus oils, like lemon, grapefruit and lime. In fall I love cedarwood, orange, and all the spicy oils like cinnamon bark, nutmeg, ginger and clove. And in the winter it’s all about the smell of fresh pine trees, Christmas, more spice (hello holiday baking!) and getting in the holiday spirit.

These blends are some of my favorites. And the favorites of many others. From the moment I wake up and turn on my diffuser, I’m instantly ready to get the holiday party started, or to relax and unwind while sitting in front of the fire with a glass of wine. It all depends on the blend. But no matter which blend you choose, you’ll enjoy breathing in the heavenly smells of a non-toxic holiday scent.

Oh Christmas tree: This is a blend that smells amazing to diffuse, but you could also stick both oils on a cotton ball and stick it in your artificial tree. Balsam Fir also has a calming effect.

2 drops Christmas Spirit and 4 drops Idaho Balsam Fir

Oh Holy Night: Both Frankincense and Myrrh date back to biblical times (yes, biblical times people….essential oils are not something new). After all, these oils were two of the gifts that the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus at his birth. Both oils are used for relaxation and have grounding properties that help bring a sense of spirituality. (*Both are also amazing to use as part of a healthy skin care routine.)

4 drops Frankincense and 2 drops Myrrh

We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Christmas Spirit is one of my favorite oils to use during the holidays. It has such a complex aroma that it’s great to diffuse on it’s own to really get you in the Christmas Spirit (see what I did there. #imsopunny).

6 drops Christmas Spirit

Santa Baby: Oh Thieves how I love thee. Top 3 oils on my list, for so many reasons that would take an entirely separate post to explain. Thieves has a spicy aroma, and when combined with orange it adds a smooth, spicy scent to your home. And not only does it smell amazing, it helps remove odors from the air. Whenever anyone in our house is feeling sub-par, out comes the Thieves and it is diffused day and night.

3 drops Thieves and 3 drops Orange

I’ll Be Home For Christmas: This is what I have in my diffuser right now. It smells a-mazing! Spicy and sweet and complex, but still all holiday.

Baby It’s Cold Outside: Spicy and evergreen scents combine to make a perfect winter’s day aroma. The Black Spruce brings a freshness to the spice of the Christmas Spirit and cinnamon. And it works so well! This blend reminds me of pre-artificial tree days, when we’d cut our own tree down. We’d haul it home, cut a few limbs off and the house would smell like the forest.

I think I’ve had at least 3 or 4 of these combinations going in my diffuser over the last week. And Thieves is an oil that I diffuse year round for all the health benefits it provides. The holidays are in full swing in our house and thanks to these holiday essential oil diffuser blends our house smells like it too.

Everyone LOVES candy canes – or at least every child that I know. Candy canes are all over the place at the holidays – gifts from teachers, gift from Santa, inexpensive in stores… crushed on cookies, hot chocolate and even hung on the tree… Candy Canes are just a tradition for most each year.

A candy cane here and there isn’t a bad thing – but if you are trying to cut back on your sugar intake, then you won’t want to eat too many.

But.. one type of Candy Cane that I don’t mind is the diffuser scent.

Stress Away Essential Oil:

With an aroma that is the perfect blend of tropical and citrus, Stress Away is uniquely relaxing and comforting. Copaiba and Lavender help support a healthy equilibrium. Cedrol found in Cedarwood and Eugenol that occurs naturally in vanilla can help support occasional nervous tension.

Peppermint Essential Oil:

Peppermint essential oil’s scent invigorates the mind and senses, while inspiring a sense of peace. It works wonderfully to support healthy muscles, support seasonal changes, elevate mood, and help to provide relief to occasional headaches. Peppermint is great to ward off pests… just as amazing to help support healthy digestion.

Essential Oils aren’t just for smell – they can support your wellness in ways that Western Medicine cannot. They can support a healthy immune system, provide support with hormones (male and female), thyroid and respiratory support, help you sleep better and more.

If you are interested in learning more about how oils can support your wellness, you can find a great deal on the premium starter kit with Young Living. It affords you the chance to score your oils at a significant discount {for life}. You can try several oils, and see how they work all while receiving an education about oils at the same time.